sero-prevalence of bloodborne tumor viruses (hcv, hbv, htlv-i and kshv infections) and related risk factors among prisoners in razavi khorasan province, iran, in 2008

Background: prisoners are at high risk of blood borne and sexually transmitted infections due to their high involvement in risky behaviors. in this descriptive/cross-sectional study, the prevalence, sero-prevalence, and risk factors for bloodborne tumor viruses including htlv-i, hbv, hcv, and kshv were evaluated among inmates of two central prisons in the northeast of iran. methods: blood samples of 1114 inmates were analyzed for the presence of anti htlv-i, kshv, and hcv antibodies and hbsag by elisa. pcr tests were performed to confirm the presence of these viruses in plasma and identify the current infections. results: the sero-prevalence of hcv, hbv, htlv-i, and kshv was 24.5%, 4.2%, 3.4%, and 3.2% and the prevalence of hcv, hbv, htlvi, and kshv was 19.1%, 2.1%, 2%, and 3%, respectively. hcv infection was significantly associated with history of imprisonment, tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption, intravenous drug use, length of imprisonment, and type of crime committed. thirty one (2.8%) prisoners had hcv-kshv co-infection, 16 (1.5%) had hcv-htlv-i co-infection, and 14 (1.3%) had hbv-hcv co-infection. triple co-infection was observed in seven cases and one case had four infections concomitantly. conclusions: this epidemiological study indicated different rates and transmission risks for these viruses. hcv was the most contagious viral infection and htlv-i was the weakest in the prisoners. apart from kshv infection which its prevalence was as twice as in the general population, the prevalence of hbv and htlv-i in prisoners was nearly in ranges of the general population.